Renault has committed to eliminating the use of animal leather across its entire range of vehicles by the end of 2025, following talks with PETA France, which shared its Vegan Car Interior Survey showing a trend toward animal-free car interiors amid growing consumer demand.
“It’s impossible to have a relaxed, luxurious ride with the weight of animal suffering and environmental pollution on board,” said James Fraser, senior corporate liaison at PETA France. “By choosing cruelty-free materials, Renault is helping spare clever cows, reduce its carbon footprint and prove that compassion and innovation go hand-in-hand.”
PETA says, on average, it takes the hides of three cows or bulls to cover the interior of a standard-size car. The leather industry is also a major contributor to climate change, land devastation, deforestation, water pollution and loss of biodiversity.
Renault recently released its latest models, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, Symbioz and Rafale, that feature seats made from recycled materials and eco-friendly interior fabrics that remove plastic waste from landfills. PETA urges other auto makers to follow Renault’s lead.
In related news, Modern Meadow recently entered a development partnership with Mercedes-Benz that leverages its Innovera material to develop a bio-design leather alternative for the Concept AMG GT XX technology program. Read the full story here
